THE Covid-19 pandemic will have “significant implications” for the future of community health services and care homes in Argyll and Bute, a report has warned.

The document, produced by the area’s health and social care partnership (HSCP), also states that there are more than 2,000 people in the area who are now ‘shielding’ because they are at greater risk of falling seriously ill.

The HSCP’s integration joint board (IJB) considered the report at its meeting on May 27.

Stephen Whiston, the HSCP’s head of strategic learning and performance, said in the report that it was important to assess the implications of the virus to ensure that staff can meet priorities.

He said: “For health and care services in the community, the existing workforce has been able to cover essential non-Covid work.

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“However, as the pandemic goes on, these services will need to support two other groups of people in the community: those who are discharged from hospital after treatment for Covid, and those being cared for with Covid in the community.

“The latter group will include a number of people in care and residential homes or supported living accommodation.

“It remains too early in the process to assess the level of care and rehabilitation support required by those leaving hospital after Covid treatment, and this will vary significantly depending on home/family support.

“Our hospitals and care homes may require to provide step down beds or temporary housing for patients requiring support on leaving hospital to comply with testing criteria.”

Mr Whiston’s report also says Covid-19 patients in the community required an intensive schedule of around three visits per day by two people for four days – and warns that stress is likely to be an ongoing problem among unpaid carers.

It says the impact on unpaid carers was currently unknown but that stress was likely to feature as an ongoing issue.

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He said: “Health and care services in the community includes district nurses, rehabilitation teams and care at home staff, many of whom are employed by local authorities and other providers.

“These groups of staff do have high levels of staff absence due to sickness and self-isolation. They will be dealing with both Covid and non-Covid patients.

“Over the last few weeks, these services have had to move onto an emergency footing to prioritise visits, meeting only essential needs.

“Importantly, because some service users have stopped their own care at home services, care at home has not as yet been significantly affected, however there is potential vulnerability for those who have refused their care package.

“There are some 340 people in care homes in Argyll and Bute and more than 1,100 receiving home care.

"In addition there are now over 2,200 people who are in the shielded category.”

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